Stray Cat? What should I do?

mutter

Around early March, I started putting a saucer of cat food out for a hedgehog I found wandering around my garden one night, only to discover it was also being eaten by a little cat.

I'd seen the cat sneaking into the garden during the day too, and drinking from my pond.
And more recently, since the sun came out, he's been creeping in the open kitchen door and pinching my cats biscuits, eating them like he's absolutely starved.
I don't really like him coming in because his coat is very dull and dandruffy looking and I don't want my cats to catch anything.
I also noticed he hasn't been neutered.
He's very timid, and runs off as soon as he sees me or another cat approaching, but he's become a bit braver since I lost my big old alpha male cat a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, he turned up early this evening with a really quite nasty looking wound on his tail. I didn't get a good look at it, but it's about halfway down, red and open, and his tail droops a bit, though he's obviously got movement in it because he lifted it up as he dashed out of the door again. I haven't seen him since, but I've put a bowl of food out because I feel so bad for him.

I'm trying to pretend I don't care, but it's been on my mind all night.
Should I call a rescue out?
Or should I take responsibility and try to catch him and take him to the vet?
If I took out a cheap insurance in the morning, would that cover him if I could get him to the vet later in the day?

I feel I wouldn't mind taking him on, but I also think he'd need some serious flea and worm treatment before I'd feel confident about him being in the house.

I really don't know what to do, but I feel so sorry for him, I can't just leave it.

ERICS_MUM

I'm a cat lover too and would probably want to take him on (if my cat would accept him) just to give him a decent life ! But I think you'll find that most cat insurance co's will have a stipulation in their policies preventing any claims for treatment needed in the first few weeks of taking it out.

Good Luck with him, let us know how you get on.


Linda xx

kerri_gt

I would advise that you get in contact with a local cat charity who will be (hopefully) able to advise on catching him and arrange vet treatment for his tail. The vet can also check if this cat is chipped as it's entirely possible he's got himself lost when wandering (esp if he's not been 'done'). Hopefully with vet treatment, the cat charity will be able to take him in and find him a new home. It could also be worth trying to take a photo and putting up some posters locally to see if he's been missed by anyone.

btw, if you are willing to take him on, discuss it with the charity, the same thing happened to us and they assisted with the intial vet costs (blood tests, spaying etc) in order for us to take our cat on - we'd already tried to find her owner etc etc and the charity were no doubt pleased we would take her in without them needing to cope with additional costs looking to rehome her elsewhere.

missmontana

Poor puddy tat! you have to do something, I have one that comes in my garden, large grey and white fella, wouldn't come near me for ages, but have gained his trust now and he even lets me rub his belly. He was over run with fleas so I put a spot on on him when I could get close enough, his coat was awful too, but he loves being groomed.
You know you will feel so much better if you can get him looked at, put a cat box outside with a blanket and some food in, see if he'll come stay in that and if you see him, talk to him etc. I chirrup at my fella, he responds! so we have a little chat then he comes for a fuss... yes I am quite mad!:o

ERICS_MUM

missmontana

what a lovely story. You are not mad, both the cat and you get pleasure from what you do, don't care what other people think !

juliebunny

MissMontana - your sign off is so cute....and the cats don't argue back, LOL, and don't expect anything in return...:D A friend of mine talks to her dogs AND answers for them in what she thinks is a doggy voice :rotfl::rotfl:

ERICS_MUM

juliebunny wrote: »

MissMontana - your sign off is so cute....and the cats don't argue back, LOL, and don't expect anything in return...:D A friend of mine talks to her dogs AND answers for them in what she thinks is a doggy voice :rotfl::rotfl:

Huh, my Eric does, in increasingly loud meows until he gets his own way ! I talk to him in baby language - doggies, dickie birds, toothy-pegs, din-dins. My neighbours have never said anything but I know they can ear me over the fence !!!!


Linda xx

mutter

Well, the stray (now known as The Littlest Hobo) is clearly psychic and knew I was plotting something nasty for him because he didn't put in an appearance while I was at home, though son reports that he saw him over the road (perhaps I'm not his only meal ticket).

I need to call or pop into the vet's on Monday to pay a stupidly enormous bill, so I might ask for a bit of free advice while I'm at it.

Raksha

I always had cats while growing up, and the 'best' cats were always the ones that came to us as strays (I actually think our 'Alpha' cat brought them home, he was such a softie) They often had dull lifeless coats, but once they were homed, fed good food, and loved, they blossomed....

Go on, you know you want to........